Door handle construction



Jan. 10, 1961 H. w. FALK 2,967,728

I JOOR HANDLE CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 14, 1958 INVENTOR ATTORNEY DOORHANDLE CONSTRUCTION Harold W. Falk, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor toWright Products, Inc., St. Paul Park, Minn., a corporation of MinnesotaFiled Feb. 14, 1958, Ser. No. 715,242 8 Claims. (Cl. 292-347) Thisinvention relates to an improvement in door handle construction anddeals particularly with a simple and effective door handle constructionwhich can be produced at low cost and economically assembled.

A considerable proportion of the cost of many hardware items at presenton the market is the cost of the labor involved in manufacturing andassembling the hardware. For example, door locks which include a doorhandle pivotally secured to an escutcheon plate structure require notonly a means of pivotally connecting the knob to the escutcheon platebut also require some means of anchoring the escutcheon plate to thesurface of the door. Because of the high cost of labor and due to thepresent trend toward home owners doing their own work, a simple means ofmounting the latch upon the door is of importance. It is an object ofthe present invention to provide a door knob and escutcheon plateassembly which is easy to form and assemble and which may be mountedupon the door by drilling three spaced small diameter holes through thedoor.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a noveland effective means of pivotally attaching the shank of the knob to theescutcheon plate structure. The knob is provided with a relatively largediameter socket in its outer end communicating with an axial passagethrough the shank designed to accommodate the square shaft connectingthe knob to the lock mechanism. A generally U-shaped spring is providedhaving a pair of parallel arms designed to extend through the passageand to define two of the walls thereof. These arms are provided withoutturned extremities capable of extending through an axial aperture ina washer to hold the washer assembled to the shank of the knob. The knobshank is provided with a small diameter portion designed to extendthrough the escutcheon plate assembly. By attaching the washer to theknob shank by means of the spring, the knob and escutcheon plateassembly are completely assembled.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the fact that theknob may if desired be detached from the escutcheon plate for repair orreplacement of one of the parts. One of the difficulties withinexpensive latch structures of the type in question lies in the factthat the pivotal mountings are usually accomplished by spinning orriveting the ends of the door knob shank to the escutcheon plateassembly. If this action is improperly assembled, the shank of the knobmay be attached to the escutcheon plate assembly so firmly that relativerotation is difiicult. In other instances, if the spinning operation isnot properly done, the two parts may readily fall apart when a pull isexerted upon the knob. Difficulty is experienced in providing a uniformjoint by the spinning or riveting method. With the present construction,the joints between the knob and the escutcheon plate assembly are allidentical and uniform and if desired, the arms of the spring may beflexed to permit the retaining washer to be removed thereby permittingthe parts to be disassembled.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the fact that theknob is provided with a disc or cover plate which frictionally engagesin the outer end of the knob to overlie the socket and to form a closuretherefor. This disc fits into position and is held in place by tatesPatent friction so that if desired it may be driven from place from theinterior of the socket in the event replacement of the spring isnecessary.

A further feature of the present invention resides in a novel manner ofsupporting a pair of internally threaded parallel sleeves to theescutcheon plate structure, the sleeves being designed to extend throughthe door and to accommodate attaching bolts inserted into the door fromthe other side to hold the escutcheon plate in place. These internallythreaded sleeves are completely hidden in finished form of theconstruction so that the locking mechanism cannot be removed from theoutside of the door.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention willbe more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification andclaims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification:

Figure 1 is a cross sectional view through the door knob and escutcheonplate assembly showing the arrangement of parts therein.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the assembly in completed form.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the inner surface of the escutcheonplate assembly.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the mounting plate which forms a partof the escutcheon plate assembly.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view through the knob shank, the positionof the section being indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a sectional view through the knob shank, the position of thesection being indicated by the line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is an exploded view of the handle knob shank and retainingwasher before assembly thereof.

The door knob assembly includes a knob body 10 having an axial shank 11projecting from the rear surface thereof. The knob shank 11 is designedfor pivotal attachment with the escutcheon plate assembly 12 whichincludes the mounting plate which is illustrated in general by thenumeral 13 and the covering shell which is indicated in general by thenumeral 14. The mounting plate 13 is formed of heavy material relativeto the shell 14 in order to provide an effective support for the doorknob 10. The mounting plate 13 is a simple stamping and may be easilyformed of thick metal in a single stamping operation. The plate 13includes a central portion 15 which is connected by angularly bentconnecting portions 16 to the end portions 17. The end portions 17 areon a common plane parallel to the central portion 15 but offsettherefrom. The end portions 17 are provided with apertures 19 extendingtherethrough.

A pair of internally threaded sleeves 20 are provided with projectingears 21 at one end thereof. These ears extend through notches onopposite sides of the opening 19 and are bent outwardly in outwardlyopposed relation so as to secure the sleeves 20 to the ends 17 of themounting plate 13. The center portion 15 of the mounting plate isprovided with a central aperture 22 which is designed to extend the endof the knob shank 11 in a manner which will be later described. Theentire mounting plate 13 is concealed within the covering shell 14 whichis normally made of relatively light weight metal as the stamping ismuch more complicated and serves to decorate the escutcheon plateassembly.

As is indicated in the drawings, the outer shell 14 follows the samegeneral contour as the mounting plate 13 including a central portion 23and end portions 24 connected to the central portion by connecting walls25. A peripheral flange 26 encircles the structure, the flange 26 beinggenerally rectangular in shape and vforming a hollow shell whichencloses "the sides as well as the outer surface of the mounting plate.The flange 26 confines the mounting plate 13 and encloses the same.

The knob is in general a hollow circular shell connected at one end to ahollow generally conical support ing portion 27. The shank 11 is axiallyconnected to the conical connecting portion 27 to act as a support forthe knob. A cylindrical socket 29 is provided in the outer surface ofthe knob accessible through the inner surface of the hollow conicalconnection portion 27. The socket 29 communicates with a generallyrectangular passage 30 extending the remainder of the way through thehandle shank.

As is evident from Figure 7 of the drawings, the shank 11 includes asmall diameter end portion 31 connected to the remainder of the shankalong a shoulder 32. The small diameter portion 31 is of proper diameterto fit through the central aperture 22 of the mounting plate 13 and alsothrough an aperture 33 in the shell 14. If desired, a flange 34 mayencircle the aperture 33 and may extend through the aperture 22 of themounting plate to be spun over the inner surface of the mounting platethereby connecting the mounting plate and shell together.

The handle shank 11 is prevented from axial movement relative to theescutcheon plate assembly by the shoulder 32. In order to prevent axialmovement in the opposite direction, a spring 35 is provided extendingthrough the handle shank. The spring 35 includes a rounded end 36 whichconnects spaced parallel arms 37. The arms 37 include a pair of inwardlyturned offsets 39 which support the arm ends 40. The arm ends 40 areprovided with outwardly turned extremities 41 which are perhaps bestillustrated in Figure 7 of the drawings.

A hearing washer 42 is provided having a rectangular recess 43 extendingtherethrough. When the ends 40 of the spring 35 are flexed together, thespring extremities 41 are close enough together to pass through theaperture 43 in the washer 42. The arms of the spring are of justsufficient length to hold the washer 42 securely against the end of thehandle shank 11. In assembling the parts, the spring 35 may be insertedin place with the ends 40 extending through the handle shank. The smalldiameter portion 31 of the handle shank may then be inserted through theapertures 33 and 22 of the escutcheon plate assembly. The extremities ofthe arms are then flexed together and the washer 42 is slipped overthese extremities so thatwhen the arms of the spring spread apart theyhold the washer 42 firmly against the end of the handle shank. Thisportion o/f the structure is then completely assembled.

It will be noted that the hollow conical portion 27 of the knob isprovided with a series of concentric shoulders 44. A disc 46 which ispreferably convex may be inserted within any of the shoulders andfrictionally engaged in place. and the size thereof, the contour of thehandle may be materially changed so as to provide a different appearancewithout materially changing the construction.

Thus it will be seen that the assembly may be readily put together atlow cost and that the handle structure is simple and inexpensive toproduce. When the rectangular shaft 47 which connects the handle to thelock mechanism on the opposite side of the door 49 is inserted betweenthe ends 40 of the spring 35, the arms of the spring may no longer flextogether and the lock cannot accidentally become disassembled.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principlesof construction and operation of my improvement in door handleconstruction, and while I have eudeovored to set forth the bestembodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that changes may bemade within the scope of the following claims without departing from thespirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A door handle assembly including a hollow esctuch- By changing theshape of the disc 46 eon plate assembly having a pivot aperture therein,a door knob having a shank projecting therefrom, said shank including anend projecting through said pivot aperture and supported by saidescutcheon plate assembly, a shoulder on said shank engageable againstthe outer surface of said escutcheon plate assembly, an axial shaftsocket in said shank, a generally V-shaped spring mounted within saidsocket and projecting from said shank end, a washer inwardly of saidescutcheon plate assembly and engaging the inner surface of the sameabout said aperture, and outwardly turned end portions on said springengaging said washer and holding the same against the end of said shank,said end portions being of a length to permit said washer to passthereover when said spring ends are flexed together.

2. The structure described in claim 1 and including an operating shaftengaged in said socket, said shaft holding said spring in washerengaging position.

3. A door handle assembly including a hollow escutcheon plate assemblyhaving a pivot aperture therein, a door knobhaving a shank projectingtherefrom, said shank including an end projecting through said pivotaperture, said shank and knob being supported by said escutcheon plateassembly, a shoulder on said shank engaging the outer surface of saidescutcheon plate assembly to limit axial movement of said shank in onedirection, an axial shaft socket in said shank, a generally U'shapedspring mounted in said socket and projecting from said shank end, awasher having a central aperture positioned inwardly of the escutcheonplate assembly and engaging the inner surface of the same, and means onthe ends of said U-shaped spring engaging said washer on opposite sidesof the aperture therein and holding said washer in fixed relation to theend of said shank, said last-mentioned means being of a size to passthrough said washer aperture when the ends of said spring are flexedtogether.

4. The construction described in claim 3 and including an operatingshaft extending into said socket between the ends of said U-shapedspring, said shaft holding the ends of said spring in engagement withsaid washer.

5. The structure described in claim 3 and including cooperable means onsaid shank and on said spring holding said spring from movement throughthe end of said shank.

6. The construction described in claim 3 and in which said escutcheonplate assembly includes a mounting plate, and a covering memberenclosing said mounting plate, and including a pair of parallelinternally threaded sleeves secured to said mounting plate and extendingsubstantially parallel to the axis of said shank.

7. The construction described in claim 3 and in which said socketincludes an enlarged diameter portion spaced from the end of said shank,and in which said spring includes a pair of arms each having shouldermeans engageable against the end of said large diameter socket portionto hold said spring from movement through the end of said shank.

8. The construction described in claim 7 and in which the large diametersocket portion extends through said knob, and including a covering discextending over the outer end of said large diameter socket portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS841,364 Wickwar Jan. 15, 1907 2,105,617 Shaw Jan. 18, 1938 2,216,467Falk Oct. 1, 1940 2,496,714 Haines Feb. 7, 1950 2,812,967 Falk Nov. 12,1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 16,203 Great Britain July 18, 1906 577.552 GreatBritain May 22, 1946

